Casino game with triggering event

ABSTRACT

A game for play by a player includes first and second wagers with the first wager being resolved according to the rules of the underlying game. The game further includes an initial player hand and a community card, with a final player hand formed using the initial player hand and the community card. The game includes a triggering event, with the triggering event occurring when the community card is a predetermined rank, a predetermined suit, or both a predetermined rank and a predetermined suit. The player receives a payout based on the second wager when the triggering event occurs if the final player hand achieves a minimum rank or better.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to games of chance, and more specifically to a card game utilizing two wagers, with resolution of the second wager dependent at least partially upon the occurrence of a triggering event.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Three card poker is a popular casino game in which a player receives three cards and uses those three cards to form the best possible poker hand. The object of the game is to form a poker hand having a higher rank than a three-card dealer hand. A player is awarded a payout if the player hand outranks the dealer hand and forms Ace high, a pair, a three-card flush, a three-card straight, three of a kind, or a three-card straight flush.

Many casino games utilize community cards. In Texas Hold'Em Poker, players receive two individual cards, and use five community cards to make the best possible five-card poker hand. In Let It Ride, players receive three individual cards, with two community cards being used to complete player hands. Many other such games currently exist. Given the camaraderie and player excitement generated by the use of a community card, in conjunction with the popularity of three card poker, a game combining the two concepts would likely generate considerable revenue for a casino or other game operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a game for play by a player using a standard deck of cards, with each of the cards having a rank and a suit associated therewith. The game includes first and second wagers with the first wager being resolved according to the rules of the underlying game. The game further includes an initial player hand and a community card, with a final player hand formed using the initial player hand and the community card. The game includes a triggering event, with the triggering event occurring when the community card is a predetermined rank, a predetermined suit, or both a predetermined rank and a predetermined suit. The player receives a payout based on the second wager when the triggering event occurs if the final player hand achieves a minimum rank or better.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the final player hand is a three card poker hand. In another embodiment of the present invention, the payout increases as the rank of the final player hand increases. The minimum rank may be a pair. When the triggering event does not occur, the second wager may be remitted. When the triggering event occurs but the final player hand does not achieve a minimum rank, the second wager may also be remitted. Preferably, the second payout increases as the rank of the final player hand increases.

The present invention also provides a three card poker game for play between a player and a dealer using a standard deck of cards. The game includes first and second wagers placed by the player. A final player hand is formed from an initial two-card player hand in conjunction with a community card. The game also includes a three-card dealer hand. The dealer hand may be formed using a two-card initial dealer hand in conjunction with the community card, or the dealer hand may be independent from the community card. The game includes a triggering event, with the triggering event occurring when the community card is of a predetermined rank, a predetermined suit, or both a predetermined rank and a predetermined suit. The player receives a first payout based on the first wager when the final player hand outranks the dealer hand. The first wager is preferably remitted when the dealer hand outranks the final player hand. The first wager is preferably returned to the player when the final player hand achieves the same rank as the dealer hand. The player receives a second payout based on the second wager when the triggering event occurs if the final player hand achieves a minimum rank or better.

The present invention also provides a method of playing the game according to the present invention, wherein the game includes a community card. First, a triggering event is predetermined, with the triggering event occurring when the community card is a predetermined rank, a predetermined suit, or both a predetermined rank and a predetermined suit. An initial player hand is then distributed. Next, a community card is provided, with the initial player hand and the community card forming a final player hand. The rank of the final player hand is then determined. The first wager is resolved based on the rules of the underlying game. Finally, a payout is award to the player based on the second wager when the triggering event occurs if the final player hand achieves a minimum rank or better. The minimum rank may be a pair. The second wager may be remitted when the triggering event does not occur. The second wager may also be remitted when the triggering event occurs but the final player hand does not achieve the minimum rank.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention. The present invention provides a modified three card poker game utilizing a community card and two wagers for play between a player and a dealer. The first and second wagers are placed prior to distribution of a player hand and a dealer hand. An initial player hand comprises two cards, with each player at a table receiving a unique initial player hand. A third card is distributed as a community card, with each player at the table using the community card in conjunction with their initial player hand to form the best possible final player hand. In the preferred embodiment, the dealer hand is distributed as three cards, such that the dealer does not use the community card in the formation of the dealer hand. However, the dealer may also receive two cards initially, with the community card completing the three card dealer hand, without changing the inventive concept.

The first wager is resolved by comparing the rank of the final player hand to the rank of the dealer hand. If the final player hand outranks the dealer hand, the player is awarded a payout based on the first wager depending upon the strength of the final player hand. For instance, a player would receive a larger payout for a straight flush than for Ace high. However, if the final player hand does not outrank the final dealer hand, the first wager is remitted to the house. In traditional three card poker, the dealer hand must have a rank of Queen high or better in order for the dealer to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify, the first wager is returned to the player. While the preferred embodiment of the present invention does not require the dealer to qualify, it is within the scope of the present invention to require dealer qualification.

The novelty of the present invention lies in the resolution of the second wager, which is wholly independent from the rank of the dealer hand. As known in the art, cards have both a suit and a rank associated therewith, with suits being clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades, and with ranks ranging from two through Ace. Resolution of the second wager is dependent upon the rank of the final player hand and upon a triggering event, wherein the triggering event is the community card being of a certain rank, of a certain suit, or of both a certain rank and a certain suit. The triggering event is predetermined, prior to play of the game. If the triggering event occurs, the player is awarded a payout based on the second wager if the final player hand achieves a minimum rank or better. In the preferred embodiment, the minimum rank is a pair. However, the minimum rank could be a different rank without changing the inventive concept. Thus, if the final player hand includes a pair or better, and if the triggering event occurs, the player will receive a payout based on the second wager regardless of the rank of the dealer hand. It should be noted, then, that it is possible to lose the first wager while receiving a payout based on the second wager. If the triggering event does not occur, the second wager is preferably remitted to the house. If the triggering event occurs but the final player hand does not achieve a minimum rank, the second wager is also preferably remitted to the house.

By way of example, assume the triggering event is predetermined to be the occurrence of any club as the community card. Next assume the initial player hand is A hearts, 2 diamonds, with the community card being 3 clubs. The rank of the final player hand, then, is a straight. Assume also that the dealer hand is 5 diamonds, 6 diamonds, 7 diamonds. The rank of the dealer hand is a straight flush. The first wager is remitted to the house, since the final player hand (straight) does not outrank the final dealer hand (straight flush). However, the player will receive a payout based on the second wager, since the triggering event occurred (the community card is a club), and since the final player hand has a rank of a pair or better (straight). In the preferred embodiment, the payout on the second wager increases as the rank of the final player hand increases. That is, the player will receive a higher payout for a straight than for a pair.

Assume now that the initial player hand is the same, A hearts, 2 diamonds, and the dealer hand is also the same, 5 diamonds, 6 diamonds, 7 diamonds. The community card, however, is 3 hearts. Here, the final player hand is a straight, with the dealer hand being a straight flush. However, the player will lose both the first wager and the second wager, since the final player hand does not outrank the dealer hand, and since the triggering event did not occur, i.e., the community card was not a club.

Assume now that the initial player hand is A hearts, 6 diamonds, with the community card being 3 clubs. Resolution of the first wager will be determined based upon the rank of the dealer hand, with the rank of the final player hand being A high. Here, the qualifying event did occur: the community card is a club. However, the final player hand does not have a rank of a pair of better, so the second wager is remitted to the house.

In the examples of the game described above, the triggering event is the occurrence of a community card of a certain suit. With one community card, this means a one in four chance of the triggering event occurring. It is within the scope of the present invention for the triggering event to be the occurrence of a community card of a certain rank. For example, the predetermined triggering event may be the occurrence of a Queen as the community card. Game play would proceed as described herein, with resolution of the second wager dependent upon the occurrence of a Queen as the community card in conjunction with the final player hand achieving a minimum rank. In this case, there would be a one in thirteen chance of the triggering event occurring. It is also within the scope of the present invention for the triggering event to be the occurrence of a community card of a certain suit and rank. For example, the triggering event may be the occurrence of 9 hearts as the community card. In this case, there is a one in fifty-two chance of the triggering event occurring. It should be appreciated that since the odds of occurrence of the triggering event are much smaller when the triggering event is a community card of both a certain suit and a certain rank, the payout on the second wager when the triggering event does occur should be much larger in this case.

While the preferred embodiment of the game according to the present invention contemplates an underlying three card poker game, the game may be utilized with any card game having a community card without changing the inventive concept. For example, in a Texas Hold'Em poker game, it could be predetermined that the river card, or the last of the five community cards, will be the community card used to determine whether or not the triggering event occurs. The initial player hand would be the player hole cards, with the river card being used to form the final player hand. Resolution of the first wager would be dependent upon the underlying game, Texas Hold'Em poker, with resolution of the second wager being dependent upon the rank of the final player hand and the occurrence or non-occurrence of the triggering event. The final player hand may also be ranked according to another system than three card poker within the scope of the present invention. For instance, the final player hand may be ranked using a blackjack scoring system. Alternatively, the final player hand may be a four-card or five-card poker hand. To practice the present invention, it matters only that the triggering event occurs and that the final player hand is of a minimum rank for a payout to be awarded on the second wager.

The present invention also provides a method of playing the game according to the present invention, wherein the game includes a community card. First, a triggering event is predetermined, with the triggering event occurring when the community card is a predetermined rank, a predetermined suit, or both a predetermined rank and a predetermined suit. An initial player hand is then distributed. Next, a community card is provided, with the initial player hand and the community card forming a final player hand. The rank of the final player hand is then determined. The first wager is resolved based on the rules of the underlying game. Finally, a payout is award to the player based on the second wager when the triggering event occurs if the final player hand achieves a minimum rank or better. The minimum rank may be a pair. The second wager may be remitted when the triggering event does not occur. The second wager may also be remitted when the triggering event occurs but the final player hand does not achieve the minimum rank.

While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, it is to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of words and description rather than of limitation. Those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize that many modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced in a substantially equivalent way other than as specifically described herein. 

1. A game for play by a player using a standard deck of cards, with each of said cards having a rank and a suit associated therewith, said game comprising: a first wager, said first wager being resolved according to the rules of the underlying game; a second wager; an initial player hand; a community card; a final player hand formed using said initial player hand and said community card; and a triggering event, said player receiving a payout based on said second wager when said triggering event occurs if said final player hand achieves a minimum rank or better; wherein said triggering event occurs when said community card is at least one of a predetermined rank and a predetermined suit.
 2. The game of claim 1, wherein said final player hand is a three card poker hand.
 3. The game of claim 1, wherein said payout increases as the rank of said final player hand increases.
 4. The game of claim 1, wherein said triggering event occurs when said community card is a predetermined rank and a predetermined suit.
 5. The game of claim 1, wherein said minimum rank is a pair.
 6. The game of claim 1, wherein said second wager is remitted when said triggering event does not occur.
 7. The game of claim 1, wherein said second wager is remitted when said triggering event occurs but when said final player hand does not achieve said minimum rank.
 8. A three card poker game for play between a player and a dealer using a standard deck of cards, with each of said cards having a rank and a suit associated therewith, said game comprising: a first wager; a second wager; an initial player hand including two cards; a community card; a final player hand formed using said initial player hand and said community card; a dealer hand; a triggering event, said triggering event occurring when said community card is at least one of a predetermined rank and a predetermined suit; wherein said player receives a first payout based on said first wager when said final player hand outranks said dealer hand; and wherein said player receives a second payout based on said second wager when said triggering event occurs if said final player hand achieves a minimum rank or better.
 9. The game of claim 8, wherein said first wager is remitted when said dealer hand outranks said final player hand.
 10. The game of claim 8, wherein said first wager is returned to said player when said final player hand achieves the same rank as said dealer hand.
 11. The game of claim 8, wherein said dealer hand comprises an initial dealer hand including two cards and said community card.
 12. The game of claim 8, wherein said second payout increases as the rank of said final player hand increases.
 13. The game of claim 8, wherein said triggering event occurs when said community card is a predetermined rank and a predetermined suit.
 14. The game of claim 8, wherein said minimum rank is a pair.
 15. The game of claim 8, wherein said second wager is remitted when said triggering event does not occur.
 16. The game of claim 8, wherein said second wager is remitted when said triggering event occurs but when said final player hand does not achieve said minimum rank.
 17. A method of playing a game using a standard deck of cards, with each of said cards having a rank and a suit associated therewith, said game including a community card, said method comprising: predetermining a triggering event, said triggering event occurring when said community card is at least one of a predetermined rank and a predetermined suit; wagering of a first wager by a player; wagering of a second wager by said player; distributing an initial player hand; providing a community card, said initial player hand and said community card forming a final player hand; determining the rank of said final player hand; resolving said first wager based on the rules of the underlying game; and awarding a payout to said player based on said second wager when said triggering event occurs if said final player hand achieves a minimum rank or better.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said minimum rank is a pair.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said second wager is remitted when said triggering event does not occur.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein said second wager is remitted when said triggering event occurs but when said final player hand does not achieve said minimum rank. 